apes clearcutting and sustainable forestry quiz

deforestation

clearing, destroying, or otherwise removal of trees through deliberate, natural or accidental means

can cause climate change, desertification, soil erosion, fewer crops, flooding, increased greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and a host of problems for indigenous people

clearcutting

fastest and cheapest

loggers remove every tree leaving barren landscape behind

if replanting does not take place, or if not successful less desrable species may grow as well as the exposed soil may erode and the land may be damaged

impacts of clearcutting

habitats and food sources for organisms and humans, soil, biogeochemical cycles, air/water quality, earths albedo and climate, economic choices related to intact forests

impacts of clearcutting on aquatic environments

increase in turbidity, increase in water temperature, increase in nutrient load, loss of habitat/ biodiversity

shelterwood logging/ strip cutting

involves clearcutting only part of a forest, groups of seedbearing trees are left standing so that their seeds can regenerate the logged area. this method is often used in forests with trees of uniform age and size. overtime this method will also regenerate a forest that has trees of varying ages and sizes

selective cutting

this method consists of harvesting only mature trees of the desired size, type or quality. this method is much less disruptive to the forest environment. it is used in forests with tree species that need shade to become established. this method tends to be a costly process because of the extra care and time taken to cut down the trees, this method is also costly in the long run because it does not allow the replanting of a new, uniform forest

sustainable forestry

referts to a collection of methods that attempt to mitigate the human impact of harvesting trees and using forest resources

sustainable forestry methods

selective tree cutting, reforestation, buying and using timber that is sustainably sourced and certitified, reusing wood, selective tree removal to reduce disease, prescribed burns for forest health

reforestation

the intentional restocking of existing forests and woodlands that have been depleted- can help

mitigating deforestation

reforestation, buying and using wood from certified providers that use ecologically sustainable forestry techniques, reusing/ repurposing/recycling wood products